Brian Willis, Brian.Willis@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to allow the Trump administration to resume construction of border walls, roads, and other infrastructure in the Big Bend region of West Texas, lifting a lower court injunction that had temporarily halted the project. The decision threatens one of the nation's most treasured natural landscapes, including Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, critical wildlife habitat, and culturally significant sites along the Rio Grande.
The Sierra Club and its Lone Star Chapter previously joined the National Parks Conservation Association in filing an amicus brief, represented by Earthjustice, supporting a legal challenge to the administration's sweeping waivers of environmental protections and a request to stop construction. While the Supreme Court's decision allows construction to resume, the underlying legal challenge remains ongoing.
In response, Dave Cortez, Director of the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter, released the following statement:
“Millions of Texans turned out to vote for change last week, and Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike have spoken out against the Trump administration’s reckless and destructive plans to bulldoze the treasured borderlands of Far West Texas and the greater Big Bend region. This Supreme Court decision ignores the bipartisan opposition to a project that threatens some of Texas’s most cherished landscapes. The Sierra Club and our allies will continue pursuing every avenue to protect public and private lands, including supporting state legislation like Representative Eddie Morales Jr.’s bill to prevent border wall construction on state park property.”
Dan Ritzman, Director of Conservation at the Sierra Club, also released the following statement:
“The Supreme Court’s decision allows the Trump administration to resume destructive construction before serious questions about the legality of this project have been resolved. Once fragile desert ecosystems are bulldozed and historic landscapes destroyed, the damage cannot simply be undone. Our national parks and public lands should not be sacrificed for unnecessary border infrastructure, and the Sierra Club will continue fighting alongside local communities to protect Big Bend and defend our nation’s bedrock environmental protections.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.